U.S. patent application number 15/444098 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-22 for system and method for communicating video of a sporting event.
The applicant listed for this patent is PLAAY, LLC. Invention is credited to Christopher Ricciardi.
Application Number | 20170178688 15/444098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56693643 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170178688 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ricciardi; Christopher |
June 22, 2017 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING VIDEO OF A SPORTING EVENT
Abstract
A system and method for processing video of a sporting event may
include receiving image data being captured real-time from an
electronic device. The image data may be portions of complete image
data of unknown length while being captured by the electronic
device. The image data portions may be processed to identify at
least one unique identifier associated with a player in the
sporting event. Successive video segments may be stitched together.
The receiving, processing, and stitching of the image data may be
repeated until an end of video identifier is received. The
completed stitched video may be stored for processing.
Inventors: |
Ricciardi; Christopher;
(Briarcliff Manor, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PLAAY, LLC |
Briarcliff Manor |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56693643 |
Appl. No.: |
15/444098 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15052728 |
Feb 24, 2016 |
9583144 |
|
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15444098 |
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62120127 |
Feb 24, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/00751 20130101;
H04N 21/8549 20130101; G11B 27/036 20130101; H04N 21/4307 20130101;
H04N 21/4223 20130101; G06F 16/784 20190101; G11B 27/031 20130101;
G06K 9/00724 20130101; G11B 27/28 20130101; G06F 16/71 20190101;
H04N 21/21805 20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G11B 27/036 20060101
G11B027/036; H04N 21/218 20060101 H04N021/218; G11B 27/34 20060101
G11B027/34; H04N 21/43 20060101 H04N021/43; H04N 21/8549 20060101
H04N021/8549; G06K 9/00 20060101 G06K009/00; G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; H04N 21/4223 20060101 H04N021/4223 |
Claims
1. A system for processing video of a sporting event, said system
comprising: an input/output unit configured to communicate over a
communications network and receive image data; a storage unit
configured to store image data captured by a plurality of users of
a single event; and a processing unit in communication with said
input/output unit and said storage unit, said processing unit
configured to: receive image data being captured real-time from an
electronic device, the image data being portions of complete image
data of unknown length while being captured by the electronic
device; process the image data portions to identify at least one
unique identifier associated with a player in the sporting event;
stitch successive video segments together; repeat receiving,
processing, and stitching of the image data until an end of video
identifier is received; and store the completed stitched video in
said storage unit for processing.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit,
in receiving the image data, is configured to receive image data of
the sporting event from a plurality of video capture devices at the
sporting event.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is
further configured to associate one or more hashtags with at least
a portion of the stitched video, the hashtags being indicative of
respective events that occur in the associated video segments.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said processing unit is
further configured to enable a user to request at least a portion
of the stitched video having one or more hashtag associated
therewith.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is
further configured to synchronize image data captured from
different video cameras of the sporting event.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit,
in receiving the image data of the sporting event, is further
configured to: receive the image data of the sporting event from
multiple camera angles; enable a user to select a stitched video
from a camera angle with a desired image of a unique identifier
associated with a respective player; and communicate the stitched
video from the camera angle with the desired image of the unique
identifier with a respective player to the user.
7. A method for processing video of a sporting event, said method
comprising: receiving image data being captured real-time from an
electronic device, the image data being portions of complete image
data of unknown length while being captured by the electronic
device; processing the image data portions to identify at least one
unique identifier associated with a player in the sporting event;
stitching successive video segments together; repeating receiving,
processing, and stitching of the image data until an end of video
identifier is received; and storing the completed stitched video
for processing.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein receiving the image
data includes receiving image data of the sporting event from a
plurality of video capture devices at the sporting event.
9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising associating
one or more hashtags with at least a portion of the stitched video,
the hashtags being indicative of respective events that occur in
the associated video segments.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising enabling a
user to request at least a portion of the stitched video having one
or more hashtag associated therewith.
11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising
synchronizing image data captured from different video cameras of
the sporting event.
12. The method according to claim 7, wherein receiving the image
data of the sporting event includes: receiving the image data of
the sporting event from multiple camera angles; enabling a user to
select a stitched video from a camera angle with a desired image of
a unique identifier associated with a respective player; and
communicating the stitched video from the camera angle with the
desired image of the unique identifier with a respective player to
the user.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional application of co-pending
U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 15/052,728 filed on Feb.
24, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,583,144 on Feb. 28, 2017,
which claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No.
62/120,127 filed on Feb. 24, 2015, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sports has a wide range of players, levels, supporters, and
fans. Players may range from beginners (e.g., 4 years old and
higher) to professionals. The levels of sports teams may range from
beginners through professionals. Supporters of sports teams and
players may include family members, assistants, volunteers, former
players, and coaches. Fans may include family members and people
who like the sport, team, or team members.
[0003] Coaches and players often find reviewing practice and game
video footage useful in helping players and teams improve their
performance. In the case of an individual player, video footage of
the individual player's actions is beneficial to view so that the
individual player can see what he or she did well and not so
well.
[0004] With low-funded teams (e.g., non-professional teams), video
editors who can review video footage to identify specific segments
related to specific players is generally not an option due to cost.
Moreover, even if a video editor is willing to work at no or low
cost, the amount of time needed to create video segments for
specific players is not always feasible due to games being long and
manually reviewing the footage to identify the specific players in
specific video segments is difficult, especially when there are
multiple players who enter and exit video scenes.
[0005] Beyond the obvious use of the video footage to assist
players and coaches in improving skills and teamwork, families and
friends of a player often like to view the player during a game
without having to watch or fast forward through an entire game, but
rather be able to see the player when he or she is "in action."
Additionally, video scrapbooks or gifts for family, such as
grandparents who live far away, are often desired, but tend to be
costly due to tedious editing processes that currently exist.
Moreover, for gifted athletes who want to provide video clips to
prospective colleges or professional teams, or scouts of
professional teams looking for gifted athletes, creation of quality
video segments that meet their respective needs is a time consuming
process.
[0006] For amateur sports, there is a desire to view the players
from multiple angles and from unique angles (e.g., from goal
viewpoint, overhead, sidelines, home team side, away team side).
However, the availability of collecting such video footage is not
possible for a variety of reasons, and establishing a coordinated
control structure for such a video production is generally not
financially possible.
[0007] Hence, there is a need for a system and process (i) to
expedite identification of players on sports teams in video
footage, (ii) to capture video footage of sport teams from multiple
mobile recording devices, possibly disparate recording devices, and
from different angles, and (iii) to synthesize and organize video
footage, optionally in real-time, that is cost effective.
SUMMARY
[0008] To provide for a cost effective and expedited process to
gather videos at games from multiple video recording devices, such
as mobile devices with video recording capabilities (e.g., smart
phone), to identify players on sports teams in video footage,
character recognition functionality capable of identifying player
numbers on jerseys or other items (e.g., vehicles) that are visible
within video footage may be utilized to identify players and flag
or otherwise identify video footage. By using character or other
identifier recognition, an automated video editor to generate video
footage clips with one or more specific players within video
content of a video may be enabled. In one embodiment, a real-time
process may be used to process the video content that is being
captured. Alternatively, a post-processing process may be utilized.
As a player's number may be visible and non-visible during a
particular segment during which the player is still in the scene
(e.g., when the player turns sideways or backwards to the camera),
an algorithm to specify tracking rules or a tracking system may be
used to track the player's head and/or other features so that video
clips in which the player is in the video may be identified.
[0009] In capturing the video, and in one embodiment, a mobile app
may be available for users who attend sporting event to download to
a mobile device. The mobile app may enable video to be captured and
uploaded. In using the mobile app, an actual and/or relative
timestamp may be applied to video content captured by users at a
sporting event, thereby enabling the video content captured by
multiple users to be synchronized. By multiple users, such as
family members, team staff, or otherwise, the video content may be
captured at multiple angles and used for editing purposes.
[0010] In an embodiment, a system for processing video of a
sporting event may include an input/output unit configured to
communicate over a communications network and receive image data, a
storage unit configured to store image data captured by multiple
users of a single event, and a processing unit in communication
with the input/output unit and storage unit. The processing unit
may be configured to receive image data being captured real-time
from an electronic device. The image data may be portions of
complete image data of unknown length while being captured by the
electronic device. The image data portions may be processed to
identify at least one unique identifier associated with a player in
the sporting event. Successive video segments may be stitched
together. The receiving, processing, and stitching of the image
data may be repeated until an end of video identifier is received.
The completed stitched video may be stored in the storage unit for
processing.
[0011] One embodiment of a method for processing video of a
sporting event may include receiving image data being captured
real-time from an electronic device. The image data may be portions
of complete image data of unknown length while being captured by
the electronic device. The image data portions may be processed to
identify at least one unique identifier associated with a player in
the sporting event. Successive video segments may be stitched
together. The receiving, processing, and stitching of the image
data may be repeated until an end of video identifier is received.
The completed stitched video may be stored for processing.
[0012] In one embodiment, the system may enable a user to enter a
particular player number and the system may identify all video
frames and/or segments in which the player wearing that number and
optionally color of the uniform of the player appears so that the
user may step to those video frames and/or segments. If there are
multiple, continuous frames in which the player wearing the number
is identified, the system may record the first frame of each of the
continuous frames so that the user can quickly step through each
different scene. For example, in the case of football, each line-up
in which a player participates may be identified. If a sport, such
as soccer, is such that the player's number tends to be visible and
non-visible during a play simply because of the nature of the
sport, then the system may use a tracking system to identify when
the player (not the player's number) is visible in a video clip,
thereby identifying entire segments during which a player is part
of the action. In one embodiment, an algorithm may be utilized to
keep recording for certain number of frames/seconds between
identifications of a player.
[0013] In one aspect, in response to identifying a particular
number on a uniform of a player, a notification may be generated
and sent to one or more mobile devices participating in a group at
a sporting event to alert fans of action involving one or more
players. If a mobile app that operates as a social network, for
example, is being used by fans at a game, then each of the fans
using the app may set search criteria so that in the event of
another fan at the game capturing video content with that search
criteria, a notification may be sent to the fan who sent the search
criteria and be able to download that video content to view the
video content that matched the search criteria. In one embodiment,
the search criteria may include player number, team name and/or
uniform colors, action type, video capture location (e.g., home
team side, visitor team side, end zone, yard line, etc.).
[0014] One embodiment of a system for processing video of a
sporting event may include an input/output unit configured to
communicate over a communications network and receive image data. A
storage unit may be configured to store image data captured by a
plurality of users of a single event. A processing unit may be in
communication with the input/output unit and the storage unit. The
processing unit may be configured to receive image data being
captured real-time from an electronic device, the image data being
portions of complete image data of unknown length while being
captured by the electronic device. The image data portions may be
processed to identify at least one unique identifier associated
with a player in the sporting event. Successive video segments may
be stitched together. The receiving, processing, and stitching of
the image data may be repeated until an end of video identifier is
received. The completed stitched video may be stored in the storage
unit for processing.
[0015] One method for creating a sports video may include receiving
video of a sporting event inclusive of players with unique
identifiers on their respective uniforms. At least one unique
identifier of the players in the video may be identified. Video
segments may be defined from the video inclusive of the at least
one unique identifier. Video segments inclusive of the at least one
unique identifier may be caused to be individually available for
replay.
[0016] One method for generating video content may include
receiving multiple video content segments of a sporting event from
video capture devices, the video capture devices operating to crowd
source video content. A player in one or more of the video content
segments may be identified. At least a portion of video content
inclusive of the player may be extracted from the one or more video
content segments with the player, and be available for viewing by a
user.
[0017] One method for sharing video of a sports event may include
receiving, by a processing unit via a communications network, a
request inclusive of at least one search parameter from a video
capture device. Video content being received by a plurality of
video capture devices at the sports event may be processed to
identify video content from any of the video capture devices at the
sports event inclusive of the at least one search parameter.
Responsive to identifying video content inclusive of the at least
one search parameter, video content may be communicated by the
processing unit via the communications network to the video capture
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are
described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing
figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an illustrative scene inclusive
of a sports playing field;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a network environment in which
crowd sourced video of a sporting event is captured and
processed;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an image of an illustrative scene in which a
player, in this case a soccer player, is shown to be running on a
playing field;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an illustrative network
environment shown to include a video capture device, such as a
smart phone, being configured with a mobile app that enables a user
of the video capture device to capture video content, and provide
for extracting particular video content desired by the user;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an illustrative sports video
indicative of video segments that include a particular player
wearing a particular player number;
[0024] FIG. 6A is an illustration of three videos A, B, and C that
were captured from three different video cameras, camera A, camera
B, and camera C;
[0025] FIG. 6B is an illustration of an extracted video shown to
include video segments B1, A2, and B3, which were originally in
videos A and B of FIG. 6A;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of illustrative app modules that
may be executed on a mobile device;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of illustrative application
modules that may be executed on a server;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for
processing and creating an extracted video with particular search
parameters;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for
crowd sourcing video content;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of an illustrative process used to
create a video from video segments;
[0031] FIGS. 12A and 12B is an illustration of a video capture
device, such as a smart phone, that includes an electronic display
to be executing an application for capturing and creating extracted
video based on one or more search parameters;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a screenshot of an illustrative user interface
that provides for selecting a particular action, player, play type,
and/or other parameters from a user's or crowd sourced video of a
sporting event;
[0033] FIG. 14A is an illustration of a video capture device or
other electronic device that may be configured to display an
illustrative graphical user interface inclusive of videos captured
by a spectator and available for instant replay;
[0034] FIG. 14B is an illustration of the video recording device
displaying a user interface, where the user has selectably changed
the view from an "instant replay" view to a "live streaming" view
by selecting the video feed type soft-button; and
[0035] FIG. 14C is an illustration of the video recording device
presenting user interface, where the user interface includes a
video display region for video content to be displayed.
[0036] FIG. 15 is a screenshot of an illustrative user interface
for a coach to sign-up and select a roster for the team;
[0037] FIG. 16 is a screenshot of an illustrative user interface
for a player to sign-up and select or submit player information,
including jersey number and team name via respective user interface
input elements;
[0038] FIG. 17 is a screenshot of an illustrative user interface
for a fan or other user to sign-up and select player(s) to
follow;
[0039] FIG. 18A is a screen shot of an illustrative user interface
inclusive of illustrative video feeds are shown to enable a user to
view one or more videos of a player captured during a sporting
event;
[0040] FIG. 18B is a screen shot of an illustrative user interface
inclusive of the video feeds of FIG. 18A;
[0041] FIG. 19 is a screen shot of an illustrative user interface
that enables a user to assign one or more hashtags to a video
segment or clip;
[0042] FIGS. 20A-20F are screen shots of an illustrative user
interface is shown to enable a user to create an event, such as a
soccer game;
[0043] FIGS. 21A-21C are screenshots of an illustrative user
interface that may provide for a user to browse content collected
at one or more events by selecting an "athletes" soft-button,
"videos" soft-button, and "hashtags" soft-button;
[0044] FIGS. 22A-22C are screenshots of user interfaces that may
provide for searching for videos; and
[0045] FIG. 23 is a user interface that may provide for a video
editing environment in which video clips taken by different users
at different angles may be listed along a first axis and time of
the video clips may be along a second axis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] With regard to FIG. 1, an illustration of an illustrative
scene 100 inclusive of a sports playing field 102 is shown. The
sports playing field 102 includes two teams of players 104a and
104b (collectively 104) playing thereon. As understood in the art,
players of sports teams typically wear jerseys or uniforms
inclusive of numbers and/or other identifiers. As shown, the
players of the two teams 104 are matched up against one another. It
should be understood that other aspects include video recording a
team practice, where players from only a single team are recorded
while playing on the sports playing field 102. As is typically the
case, fans, supporters, spectators, team management, or otherwise
record video of the teams who are playing. As shown, video
recording devices 106a-106n (collectively 106) that are positioned
at different angles around the field 102 may be used to capture or
record video of the teams 104 during a game. The video capture
devices 106 may be the same or disparate mobile devices, such a
smart phones, tablets, video cameras (e.g., GoPros.RTM.), or any
other video capture device that may be networked or non-networked,
but be capable of uploading video content in any manner, as
understood in the art. Video recording devices 106c and 106n may be
respectively mounted to goalposts 108 at a north (N) end and south
(S) end of the sports playing field 102.
[0047] With regard to FIG. 2, an illustration of a network
environment 200 in which crowd sourced video or user generated
content of a sporting event is captured and processed is shown. The
network environment 200 includes the video capture devices 106 that
may capture raw video content or video 202a-202n (collectively
202), and communicate the raw video content 202 via a
communications network 204 (e.g., WiFi, cellular, and/or Internet)
to a server 206. Because mobile devices are able to capture data in
high-resolution, the size of video or video data files these days
can be quite large (e.g., several megabytes). As a result, the
amount of time and bandwidth needed to upload the video data files
can be considerable. Rather than waiting for a user to complete a
video, which is unknown in size before completed, so as to operate
in a more real-time basis, one embodiment of an app being executed
by the video capture devices 106 may include communicating the
captured video 202 on a periodic (e.g., every 5 or 10 seconds) or
aperiodic basis (e.g., responsive to an event occurring), but prior
to completion of recording of an entire video.
[0048] As an example, a 2-minute video 202n' is shown to be
captured and stored in video capture device 106n. In one
embodiment, while capturing the video 202n', short (e.g.,
10-second) video segments 202n'' (i.e., portions of a complete
video of unknown length while being captured) may be communicated
via the network 204 to the server 206. The server 206 may, in one
embodiment, process the video segments 202n'' as received. In an
alternative embodiment, rather than uploading the video 202n' in a
real-time manner, app on the video capture device 106n may be
configured to capture the entire video 202n' and send multiple,
short video segments 202n'', such as 10-seconds (10 s), via the
communications network 204 to server 206. The server 206 may be
configured to receive the video segments 202n'' and to "stitch" the
video segments 202n'' into the full-length video 202n'. In one
embodiment, an end video code or identifier may be communicated
with the last video segment that completes a full video so that the
server 206 may determine that the video is complete and store the
completed video. In addition to providing a more real-time process,
but sending the video segments 202n'' while recording, other
processing and communications may be performed during the recording
and communication processes.
[0049] Moreover, because the video content that is captured may be
high-resolution (e.g., 1080p), the amount of extra data that is to
be sent as compared to a lower resolution, such as 640p or 720p, is
significant, especially for longer videos. In the event that the
application is capturing humans, which do not move relatively fast
over a 1-second timeframe, one aspect may capture the video content
at a higher resolution, but communicate the content at a lower
resolution, thereby provide video quality that is acceptable to
view, but utilizes lower bandwidth, takes less time to communicate,
and consumes less memory at the server and when viewed on other
devices after editing. However, because an image processing
algorithm(s) performed by the server may have improved performance
with higher resolution, especially for number and color
identification, reducing the resolution may also reduce performance
of the image process. To provide for improved performance of the
image processing algorithm(s) while simultaneously accommodating
the communication and memory capacity performance, one embodiment
provides for communicating one or more frames per second at the
high-resolution or key frames 202n''', and video 202n'' at a lower
resolution. In one aspect, the video capture devices 106 may be
configured to communicate every 12th frame (e.g., one per 1/2
second if frame capture rate is 24 frames per second) as
high-resolution (e.g., 1080p) images 202n''', and the video 202n''
at lower resolution. In the event that the sport being imaged is a
sport that players move faster than running, such as skiing,
skating (e.g., hockey), car racing, etc., higher frame rates (e.g.,
4 high-resolution frames per second or every 6 frames if the video
capture rate is 24 or 25 frames per second) of the high-resolution
frames 202n''' may be communicated along with the lower resolution
video 202n''. If every 12th frame 202n''' is a high-resolution
frame and the frame capture rate is 24 frames per second, then a
10-second video includes 20 high-resolution frames 202n'''. The 20
high-resolution frames 202n''' may be included in the video
segments 202n'' being communicated or separate from the video
segments 202n''. It should be understood that other video capture
rates and individual high-resolution image rates may be utilized
based on a variety of factors, including type of sport, amount of
communication bandwidth, storage capacity, or otherwise.
[0050] The server 206 may be configured to identify video segments
that comply with search parameters to form an extracted video 208
as desired by users of the video capture devices 106 or other
users, such as family members of players of sports teams. The
extracted video 208 may include video content that complies with
input search parameter(s) by a user that includes a player
identifier of a sports team. In one embodiment, the server 206 may
be configured to identify a player wearing a particular number on
his or her jersey, and extract video content or video segments
inclusive of the jersey with the particular number. In one aspect,
the server 206 may be configured to extract video with a player
having certain jersey colors, such as blue with white writing, such
as numbers. The server 206 may also be configured to extract video
that matches a particular action identifiable by a user generated
and/or automatically generated tag associated with video content.
As shown, a live stream 210 may be communicated from the server to
one or more of the video capture devices 106 that request to
receive video from others of the video capture devices 106, as
further described with regard to FIGS. 14A-14C.
[0051] With regard to FIG. 3, an image of an illustrative scene 300
in which a player 302, in this case a soccer player, is shown to be
running on a playing field. The player 302 has an identifier 304,
in this case number "10," on his uniform that has dark writing on a
light uniform. The player 302 is shown to be dribbling a soccer
ball 306, and being chased by players 308 on another team,
generally wearing different color uniforms, trying to take the
soccer ball 306 from the player 302. As will be described further
herein, a system may be configured to (1) identify a player wearing
a particular identifier, such as number "10," and (2) being in "the
action," such as being near a ball (e.g., football, soccer ball,
basketball), or other sports item. Rather than being automatically
identified, a crowd edited process for identifying action(s) by
players may be performed in a semi-automated or manual manner, as
further described herein.
[0052] With regard to FIG. 4, an illustration of an illustrative
network environment 400 is shown to include a video capture device
402a, such as a smart phone, being configured with a mobile app
that enables a user of the video capture device 402a to capture
video content, and have the ability to extract or cause to extract
particular video content desired by the user. The video capture
device 402 may include an electronic display 404 on which user
interface 406 may be displayed. The user interface 406 is shown to
include an image 407 of a player on a playing field, for example.
Control buttons 408a, 408b, and 408c (collectively 408) are shown
to enable the user to take a video, share a video, and create or
request a composite or extracted video, respectively. A composite
video is video formed of one or more video clips or segments (or
references to timestamps within one or more video clips or
segments) that combined form a video that may be viewed by a user.
It should be understood that additional and/or alternative control
elements 408 may be available via the mobile app being executed by
the video capture device 402a, as well. As understood in the art,
the app may be downloaded from an app store or other network
location.
[0053] The video capture device 402a may be configured to
communicate video 410 (i.e., video content in a digital data
format) and timestamps 412 representative of times that the video
410 is captured. The video 410 may be in the form of video clips
(e.g., less than 2 minutes in length or be a full, continuous video
of an entire sporting event). In one embodiment, an app on the
video capture device 402a may be configured to record actual times
or relative times at which video is captured, and those times may
be associated with the video 410. The video 410 and timestamps 412
may be communicated via a communications network 414 to a server
416. The server 416 may include a processing unit 418, which may
include one or more computer processors, including general
processor(s), image processor(s), signal processor(s), etc., that
execute software 420. The processing unit 418 may be in
communication with a memory unit 422, input/output (I/O) unit 424,
and storage unit 426 on which one or more data repositories
428a-428n (collectively 428) may be stored. The video 410 and
timestamps 412 may be received by the processing unit 418, and
processed thereby to generate an extracted video 430 based on
parameters, such as player identifier, action type, or any other
parameter, as desired by a user of the video capture device 402a or
otherwise. The video 410 and timestamps 412 may be stored in the
data repositories 428 by the processing unit 418, and the extracted
video 430 may be communicated via the I/O unit 424 to the video
capture device 402a for display thereon.
[0054] In one embodiment, the software 420 may be configured to
store video 410 in the data repositories 428 in a manner that the
video operates as reference video for the extracted video 430. That
is, rather than making copies of the video 410 stored in the data
repositories 428 for individual users, the video 410 may be
referenced using computer pointers or indices, as understood in the
art, to refer to a memory location or timestamp in the source video
so that duplicate copies of the video 410 are not needed. The
extracted video 430 may be copies of subsections of the video 410
or entire video that is accompanied with pointers or timestamps
(not shown) to point to sections of the video that meet criteria of
the user who receives the extracted video 430. Rather than
communicating copies of video in file form, the video may be
streamed to the video capture 402a.
[0055] In one embodiment, additional video capture devices 402 may
be configured to capture video in the same or similar manner as the
video capture device 402a, and the server 416 may be configured to
receive and process video captured by multiple video capture
devices to generate a crowd sourced video, where the crowd sourced
video may include video clips or content segments from different
angles at a sporting event. The crowd sourced video may be a single
video file inclusive of video clips available from the crowd
sourced video clips or video clips that match search parameter(s),
as further described herein. In one embodiment, in addition to
communicating video 410 and timestamps 412, additional information,
such as geographic location or identifier of a field or sporting
event may be generated and communicated by the video capture device
402a to the server 416, so that multiple video capture devices 402
that are recording video at the same event may be associated and
stored with one another for processing by the server 416. For
example, the app may be configured to enable the user to create or
select a name of a sporting event at a particular geographic
location that is occurring, such as Norwood Mustangs versus Needham
Rockets at Norwood High School Field, and that information may be
uploaded, with or without video and timestamp information, to a
server so that other users who are also at the same game, such as a
high school football game, may be able to select the name of the
event from a selectable list of games being played at a geographic
location given that multiple games are often played at a single
park or field, for example.
[0056] As is further described herein, video or video clips 410 may
be collected by multiple users and video capture devices 402. The
video clips 410 may be stored by the server 416 that enables the
users to access the video clips 410 for producing crowd edited
video. In crowd editing, the video clips 430 may be communicated to
or otherwise accessed by the users to view and associate hashtags
432 or other identifiers that enable users to perform more accurate
searching and more easily produce composite videos. In an
alternative embodiment, the server 416 may be configured to
semi-automatically or automatically tag video clips with
hashtags.
[0057] With regard to FIG. 5, an illustration of an illustrative
video 500 is shown. The video 500 is captured from camera A, and
includes a number of video segments, A.sub.1, A.sub.2, and A.sub.3,
in which a player wearing the number "7" on his or her jersey,
which has a color scheme that may optionally be used for
identification purposes, is captured. Video segment A.sub.1 is 8
seconds long and extends between timestamps T.sub.1 and T.sub.2.
Video segment A.sub.2 is 12 seconds long and extends between
timestamps T.sub.3 and T.sub.4. Video segment A.sub.3 is 4 seconds
long and extends between timestamps T.sub.5 and T.sub.6. The video
segments between timestamps T.sub.2 and T.sub.3, and T.sub.4 and
T.sub.5 may be determined to not include video footage of the
player wearing number "7" on his or her uniform. As will be
described further herein, the user may desire to have a video
created that includes only video segments A.sub.1, A.sub.2, and
A.sub.3, thereby shortening his or her review time of, or focusing
on, all the plays in which player wearing number "7" was captured.
An extracted video (not shown) that includes only the video
segments A.sub.1, A.sub.2, and A.sub.3 may be created. In one
embodiment, short fade-to-black or other transition video segments
may be displayed between video segments A.sub.1, A.sub.2, and
A.sub.3. Alternatively, pauses between video segments A.sub.1,
A.sub.2, and A.sub.3 may be set to enable a user to selectively
continue watching or not.
[0058] With regard to FIG. 6A, an illustration of three videos A,
B, and C that were captured from three different video cameras,
camera A, camera B, and camera C, are shown. In each of the videos,
video segments including player wearing jersey number "7" were
captured. In video A, video segments A.sub.1, A.sub.2, and A.sub.3
include a player wearing jersey number "7." In video B, video
segments B.sub.1, B.sub.2, and B.sub.3 includes content with the
player wearing jersey number "7," and in video C, video segments
C.sub.1, C.sub.2, and C.sub.3 include video content with player
number "7." In one embodiment, the videos 600 may be communicated
to a central location, such as a server, so that a crowd sourced
video can be produced. In another embodiment, the crowd sourced
video may include the longest, best, most action filled, or simply
include the player wearing jersey number "7." Tags applied to the
videos 600 may be used in identifying video clips and assembling an
aggregated or extracted video or presenting the identified video
clips.
[0059] With regard to FIG. 6B, an extracted video 602 is shown to
include video segments B.sub.1, A.sub.2, and B.sub.3, which were
originally in videos A and B of FIG. 6A. Each of the video segments
B.sub.1, A.sub.2, and B.sub.3 were determined to be the longest
video segments and/or least shaking, most in focus, etc. in which
the player with identifier number "7" on his or her uniform was
captured in the three videos of FIG. 6A. Between video segments
B.sub.1, A.sub.2, and B.sub.3, transition video segments TR.sub.1,
TR.sub.2, and TR.sub.3, are shown. These transition video segments
may be utilized to make the video more aesthetically pleasing to a
viewer. The transition segments TR.sub.1, TR.sub.2, and TR.sub.3
may be fade-to-black or any other video transition segment, as
understood in the art. In one embodiment, the video segments
B.sub.1, A.sub.2, and B.sub.3 or video segments in which the player
is carrying or near the ball, basket, goal, or any other location
on a sports field, as further described herein.
[0060] With regard to FIG. 7, a block diagram of modules 700 of a
mobile device app is shown. The modules may be executed by a
processor of the mobile device, such as a smart phone, and may be
utilized to capture video, communicate video, process video, and
perform a variety of other functions for a user of the mobile
device. In this instance, the mobile device operates as a video
capture device utilizing the mobile app. In an alternative
embodiment, the mobile device simply uses a conventional video
capture application, and the video captured may be communicated to
a server for processing thereat. It should be understood that the
mobile app may be resident or not resident (e.g., cloud based) on
the mobile device.
[0061] The module 700 may include a user interface module 702 that
provides the user with interactive functionality via a touchscreen
or other user interface on a mobile device, as understood in the
art. The user interface module 702 may operate as a conventional
application that, in this case, enables video capturing, video
management, and video processing or establishing search parameters
or criteria for video processing to be performed. For example, the
user interface module 702 may provide a user interface element that
enables the user to select a number of a player on a particular
team along with a minimum amount of time for the player to be in a
scene or performing a particular type of play (e.g., batting). The
module 702 may also provide for a user to review video clips and
assign one or more tags to the video clips.
[0062] A video capture module 704 may be configured to enable the
user to capture video utilizing the app. In one embodiment, rather
than the app providing the video capture capability, the app may
utilize a standard video capture application on a mobile device,
and allow the user to access or import the video that was captured
on the mobile device.
[0063] A video upload module 706 may be configured to enable a user
to upload video that was captured on the mobile device. The video
upload module 706 may enable the user to select some or all of the
video that the user captured during a game. In operation, the video
upload module 706 may be configured to upload in small (e.g., 5 or
10 second increments) as the video is being captured, as previously
described with regard to FIG. 2, so that the video upload process
can be performed in a substantially real-time basis. As previously
described, by uploading the video as it is being captured, the
mobile device can perform other communication tasks between the
uploads of the video and a server may process the video segments as
received. In an alternative embodiment, the video (e.g., 2-minutes)
may be fully captured and sent in smaller segments (e.g., 10 second
segments). A selectable setting may be set by a user of the mobile
device for how the video is to be uploaded. By uploading video
content in short segments or segment fragments (e.g., 5 or 10
second segments), the mobile device may be able to perform
additional communications operations between uploads. Moreover,
because some communications networks limit length of video uploads,
sending portions of the video may allow for a video that exceed
network length or size limits to be uploaded. The module 706 may
apply tags or other identifiers to the video segments to indicate
whether a video segment being uploaded is the start of a new video,
continuation of previous video segment(s), or last video segment.
Moreover, the video segments may be encrypted or otherwise encoded
to limit the ability for video to be intercepted and accessed by
someone not authorized to view the video.
[0064] As previously described, the video may be high-resolution
video (e.g., 1080p), which takes a lot of bandwidth, power, time,
and resources to upload from a mobile device and process using
image processing. As a result, the module 706 may be configured to
upload the video in a lower resolution, such as 640p or 720p. Since
image processing by a server to identify certain features in a
video may be improved by using higher resolution, the module 706
may be configured to have one frame periodically or aperiodically
be high-resolution or extract key frames or sequence of images and
communicated separate from a lower resolution video derived from
the high-resolution video. In one embodiment, a blur rating of a
high-resolution image frame may be determined by measuring
straightness of a straight line or other measurement technique and,
if the blur rating is below a threshold, send the high-resolution
image frame, otherwise, not send the high-resolution image frame
and continue testing successive image frames until one passes
before sending. The module 706 may determine or be set to keep a
frame high-resolution or send separate still images with
high-resolution based on a sport or action being recorded. As an
example, every 12th frame (if frame rate is 25 frames per second)
may be communicated along with or within a video being sent at a
lower resolution (e.g., 720p), thereby enabling image processing to
be performed on the high-resolution frames. In sending the
high-resolution frames, an indicator, such as a timestamp, that
corresponds to a frame in the lower resolution video, may be
provided to enable processing or tagging of the lower resolution
video based on identification of content in the high-resolution
images.
[0065] In one embodiment, the video upload module 706 may enable to
user to apply a name, geographic location, and/or other indicia to
be in association with the video, thereby enabling the user and/or
server to identify the location, game, or any other information at
a later point in time. The information may be established prior to
the uploading process, as further described herein. In one
embodiment, the identification information may be utilized to crowd
source the video with other video that was captured at the same
sporting event. If the user elects to participate in a temporary
(e.g., for the game) or longer term (e.g., for the season of a
team) social media environment, the video upload module may operate
to stream data being recorded to a server for real-time processing
and/or distribution to other users in the social media environment
(e.g., other users at the game).
[0066] A video manager 708 may enable the user to review one more
videos, store the videos in a particular fashion, identify the
videos through timestamps, categories, locations, or any other
organizational technique, as understood in the art. The video
manager 708 may also be configured to identify and store
information identified in the video in a real-time or
post-processing manner so that the parameters may be communicate to
the server for processing. In an alternative manner, the processing
may be performed by the server.
[0067] A composite video request module 710 may be configured to
enable a user to request a composite or extracted video. The module
710 may provide a user with parameter settings that the user may
select and/or set to cause a composite video to be created
inclusive of matching or conforming content using those parameters.
For example, the module 710 may enable the user to select a
particular identifier of a player, a particular action by the
player, a particular distance from a ball, a minimum amount of time
in a video clip, and so forth. Measurements of distance may be made
by using a standard sized object, such as a ball, to determine
scale and distance of a player to an object.
[0068] A player request module 712 may enable the user to request a
player by an identifier on the player's jersey. The module 712 may
be incorporated into or be separate from the module 710.
[0069] An extract video module 714 may be configured to utilize the
input search parameters selected by the user, and utilize image
processing to (i) identify video segments within which content that
satisfies the parameters or criteria are met, and (ii) set
timestamps, pointers, or other indices at the start and end of
video segments identified as meeting the parameters. In an
alternative embodiment, rather then setting timestamps, pointers,
or other indices, video segments may be copied and storage separate
from the raw video, and used in creating and extracted video
inclusive of one or more video segments in which content satisfies
parameters set by the user.
[0070] A share video module 716 may be configured to enable a user
to share video, raw video and/or extracted video, that he or she
captured with other users. In one embodiment, the video may be
shared with a limited group, such as friends, family, or other
users at a particular sporting event. Alternatively, the share
video module 716 may enable the user to share video in a public
forum. In sharing the video, the module 716 may communicate the
video to a server for further distribution. If the user has agreed
to share video in a manner that enables the video to be processed
and used as a crowd sourced video for editing purposes, then share
video module 716 may communicate a portion or all of the video to a
server. If the mobile device app is configured to perform certain
types of processing, then the video that is shared by module 716
may be in video segments that meet particular criteria being
requested by other users or an administrator. Still yet, the share
video module 716 may be configured to work with the video upload
module 706 in sharing video in real-time or other sharing
arrangement(s).
[0071] A social media interface module 718 may enable the user to
upload some or all of the video that the user has captured to
social media (e.g., user account on FaceBook.RTM.). The module 718
may be configured to simply enable the user to select a social
media account, and the module 718 may upload desired video or any
other information to the social media account for posting thereon.
The social media interface module 718 may be configured to manage
social media accounts. In one embodiment, the social media
interface module 718 may be configured to manage temporary social
media network events, where a temporary social media network event
may be a social media network set up on a per game or per season
basis.
[0072] A select roster module 720 may enable a user, such as a
coach, to select a roster of players on a team to define player
positions on the team. The players on the roster may be assigned
player numbers that are to be on their respective uniforms. The
roster may enable users to more easily select players by users who
are following a team.
[0073] An apply hashtags module 722 may be configured to
automatically, semi-automatically, or manually enable a user to
apply one or more hashtags to a video content segment or clip. In
applying the hashtags, video content segments may be provided to
the user after capturing the video clips and prior to communicating
the video clips to a networked server or provided by the networked
server for tagging by user(s), as further described herein. The
module 722 may provide the user with soft-buttons, for example, for
the user to select to identify action(s) and/or object(s) within
the video content segment(s).
[0074] With regard to FIG. 8, a block diagram of illustrative
modules 800 that may be executed on a server is shown. The modules
800 may be utilized to receive, process, and extract video so as to
create an extracted video as desired by a user.
[0075] The modules 800 made include a mobile device interface
module 802 that enables the server to communicate with one or more
mobile devices to support a user interface, upload or download
video, or perform other functions with mobile devices or other
electronic devices, such as computers configured to process video
content. The module 802 may be configured to receive video segments
in a real-time or semi-real-time basis while a user is capturing a
video and store the video segments in a manner that additional
video segments of the same video can be appended or "stitched" to
the previous video segment(s). Alternative configurations may be
utilized depending on how the mobile device that is sending the
video to the server is configured. As an example, the video segment
may be received after the video is completely recorded and then
sent in 10 second video segments, but not necessarily with 10
seconds between each of the segments, as is performed when
communicating the video segments during capture of the video. Yet
another video transfer mode may allow for the video to be
communicated and received as a whole.
[0076] In one embodiment, the module 802 may be configured to
receive video content that is lower resolution than the resolution
of the raw video content captured by the mobile device to reduce
upload time, data storage consumption, and processing. As
understood in the art, resolution at 640p or 720p on small screens
is suitable for most applications. However, image processing to
identify certain features within image frames or key frames is
improved when performed on image frames with higher resolution
(e.g., 1080p). Hence, high-resolution images that are separate from
the video or embedded within the video may be received and
processed for identifying specific content, such as player numbers
on jerseys. Depending on the speed of content being imaged, the
frequency of the high-resolution images may vary. In one
embodiment, the high-resolution images may be tagged with a
timestamp or other identifier that corresponds to a location in a
video segment, thereby allowing for marking or otherwise processing
the video based on image processing of the high-resolution
images.
[0077] A video extraction parameters module 804 may be configured
to identify parameters that may be used to define specific video
content being sought by a user. For example, the extraction or
search parameters may include player number, amount of time player
is in a segment, proximity of the player to a ball or other region
on a playing field, or otherwise. The parameters may be
communicated from a mobile device or otherwise to the server, and
the module 804 may utilize that information in processing the video
to produce an extracted or composite video. In one embodiment, the
video extraction parameters module 804 may be configured to process
the key frames (e.g., high-resolution images periodically derived
from high-resolution video), as opposed to the video that may be in
lower resolution than the key frames, to determine content in the
key frames. As an example, if player numbers are being searched,
the key frames may be used to determine whether a player is in a
particular portion of the video by determining that the player
number associated with the player is in the key frames. If,
however, a determination is made that a player number is in one
frame and then a successive frame one-half second later does not
show the player number in the image, then a determination may be
made as to whether the player simply turned, left the frame, or
multiple video segments exist. Other reasons for a player number
not being in successive key frames may be possible. Tracking the
player numbers within successive key frames may also provide for
stitching or not stitching video clips together.
[0078] A video processing module 806 may be used to process video
captured by one or more users using video capture devices. The
module 806 may be configured to format each video from different
users and video capture devices into a common format prior to,
during, or after processing the video. For example, the video
processing module 806 may include a function that measures a
standard sized object, such as a soccer ball, football, base, net,
etc., in a video and uses that measurement to determine scale of
the captured content so as to determine other measurements, such as
distance of a player from a ball, distance of a person from a goal,
or otherwise, so that a user may submit a search parameter of a
player being a certain maximum distance from a ball, goal, basket,
etc. That is, if a standard sized object, such as a soccer ball, is
measured at a 1/10th scale, then other objects and distances from
the video can be measured using that scaling.
[0079] As the standard sized object moves through multiple frames,
where the standard sized object moves from being close to being
farther from a camera, measurements can be made as the object moves
to dynamically determine scale and that scale can be dynamically
applied to the other objects at the different frames. In an
alternative embodiment, if the standard sized object, such as a
goal, basket, field markings (e.g., yard lines), does not move,
then dynamic adjustment of the scale is unnecessary within a single
video segment. As an example, as a player being tracked moves in a
frame, a distance of the player to the soccer ball may be
dynamically measured and a predetermined distance, such as 8 feet,
from the soccer ball may define when the player is "in the action"
or not. As the player comes within the predetermined distance, then
a tag may be automatically applied to a video frame and as the
player exits from the predetermined distance, that video frame may
be tagged so that the video segment between the first and second
tags may be identified as the player being "in the action." In an
alternative embodiment, an indicator may be associated with a frame
or set of frames where a player meets a criteria, and a user may
manually set a tag based on the criteria having been met or not,
the action happening at that time, or otherwise.
[0080] An extract video module 808 may be configured to extract
video that has been identified to meet criteria or search
parameters set by a user. The extract video module 808 may be
configured to index the video or copy and paste video content that
has been identified into a different region of memory or on a
storage unit.
[0081] A video management module 810 may be configured to enable a
user and/or administrator to manage video that has been uploaded.
The module 810 may be configured to store video in association with
respective user accounts, tag the video in a manner that allows for
correlating video content captured from the same sports event, or
copy the video that is determined to be captured at the same sports
event into another region of memory that includes all video
captured from the same respective sporting events. The video
tagging may be automatic, semi-automatic, or manually tagged, as
described with regard to module 820.
[0082] A video upload/download module 812 may enable the user to
upload and download videos from the server. The module 812 may
operate in conjunction or be integrated with the module 802. The
module 812 may be configured to automatically, semi-automatically,
or manually enable the user to upload and download video to and
from the server. In one embodiment, the module 812 may be
configured to allow for real-time or semi-real-time streaming of
video to users who request real-time streaming.
[0083] A share video module 814 may enable a user to share a video
with other users. In one embodiment, sharing the video with other
users may provide for sharing the video with friends, family, other
users (e.g., spectators) at a particular game, users within a
particular group (e.g., high school football group), or otherwise.
The module 814 may be configured to use search parameters from
users that are used by the video processing module 806 to identify
video segments or streams that include video content that match the
search parameters, and cause the video segments and/or streaming
video to be communicated to users searching for video segments
and/or real-time streaming video content. In one embodiment,
because the video content is to be processed to determine if the
video content includes one or more search parameters, real-time
streaming may include video content that is delayed due to
processing limitations.
[0084] A social media interface module 816 they enable a user to
load video captured and/or processed by a server onto social media.
That is, the module 816 may enable the user to post video content
from the server is his or her account or processed by the server
and available to the user to one or more social networking site of
the user or group (e.g., high school football fan club). In one
embodiment, the module 816 may be configured to establish temporary
(e.g., game), extended (e.g., season), or permanent social media
networks for users to participate in recording, sourcing,
requesting, and receiving video content on a real-time or
non-real-time basis, as further described herein.
[0085] A synchronize videos 818 module may be utilized to enable
the system to synchronize videos from multiple users. In
synchronizing the videos for multiple users, if the users are all
using an app that is common, then that app may utilize a real time
clock to synchronize videos being captured by different users by
timestamping video segments, relative clock that is set by a start
of the game, or any other technique for synchronizing videos,
including identifying an action (e.g., ball snap, pitch, hit, etc.)
within a video and matching the same action in multiple videos. The
synchronize video module 818 may be utilized by the video
processing module 806.
[0086] An apply hashtags module 820 may be configured to
automatically, semi-automatically, or manually apply one or more
hashtags to a video content segment or clip. In applying the
hashtags, a server may apply tags assigned to the video content
segments by users via the apply hashtags module 722, for example,
for storage in a data repository.
[0087] With regard to FIG. 9, a flow diagram of an illustrative
process 900 for processing and creating an extracted video with
particular parameters is shown. The process 900 may start at step
at 902, where a player identifier in a sporting event is received.
The player identifier may be a number on a uniform or jersey of a
player that is playing in the sporting event. At step 904, the
player identifier may be identified in the video of the sporting
event. The number and jersey may be in color to provide for
additional identification capabilities. In identifying the player
identifier in the video, image processing may be utilized to
inspect numbers on jerseys of the players throughout a video. In
one embodiment, the image processing may identify specific colors
of jerseys, thereby enabling filtering of players in a manner that
avoids identifying a player with the same number on the other team.
The player identifier may also have another parameter that defines
the player as being in a particular position, such as offense or
defense, so that when an offense of a team is on the field, and the
player is on the defense, the video processing may simply skip that
segment. It should be understood that player numbers and colors may
be utilized, but other unique identifiers and combinations of
unique identifiers may be utilized to determine player and team of
the player.
[0088] At step 906, one or more video segments may be defined from
video inclusive of the player identifier. In identifying the video
segments, start and stop times or any other indices that identify
video segments in which the player identifier is included may be
used. At step 908, extracted video inclusive of the one or more
video segments may be generated. The extracted video may be
generated by using references to particular video segments in a
single video or multiple videos, or may be a new video that
includes each of the selected video segments inclusive of the
player identifier. The extracted video may also include transition
video segments between each of the extracted video segments that
form the extracted video. At step 910, the extracted video may be
caused to be available for replay. In causing the extracted video
to be available for replay, the video may be available on a mobile
device of a user, available on a server accessible by the user via
a mobile device or other electronic device, written to and stored
in a non-transitory storage medium, such as a disk, tape, or
otherwise.
[0089] With regard to FIG. 10, a flow diagram of an illustrative
process 1000 for crowd sourcing video content is shown. The process
1000 may start at step 1002, where multiple video content segments
of a sporting event from video capture devices being operated in an
uncoordinated manner may be received at a central location. In
being uncoordinated, the video capture devices may be operated by
users who are not centrally coordinated by a video production
manager using the video to broadcast or for use by a team. The
users may be fans, supporters, spectators, family, friends of the
team (e.g., coaches), or even part of the team, but overall not
coordinated.
[0090] At step 1004, a player in one more video segments may be
identified using image processing. In identifying the player, a
player identifier, such as a player number on his or her uniform,
may be identified using character recognition or other image
processing technique. In one embodiment, if a player is indicated
as being on a particular team, a team jersey may be identified by
colors (e.g., white jersey with blue writing on the jersey). If the
player is identified in a video segment, indices, markers,
pointers, timestamps, or any other computer implemented indicator
that defines a start and end of the video segment inclusive of the
player may be utilized.
[0091] At step 1006 at least a portion of video content segments
inclusive of the player in the video segments may be extracted. In
extracting the video, the indices, markers, pointers, timestamps,
or other computer implemented indicator being used to identify a
start and end of a video segment may be stored in an array or other
memory configuration. In response to a user requesting to play the
video segment(s), the identified video segments as identified by
the indices may be played, while unmarked video segments may be
skipped. The video extraction may also include identifying one or
more tags with video content segments in which a player is or is
not included, and those tagged video content segments may be
extracted for inclusion in a video. Alternatively, copies of the
marked segments may be copied into a different storage or memory
area so that a new video including the video segments may assembled
into an extracted video.
[0092] At step 1008, at least a portion of the video content
segments inclusive of the queried player (i.e., the player matching
a submitted identifier as a search parameter) may be enabled for
the user to view. In one embodiment, enabling the video content to
be available for a user to view may include enabling the user to
view the video content via a mobile device or may be written on a
non-transitory memory device, such as a DVD, or downloadable via a
website, online store, or otherwise.
[0093] With regard to FIG. 11, a flow diagram of an illustrative
process 1100 used to create a video from video segments is shown.
The process 1100 may start at step 1102, where video segments or
indices that define video segments from videos of sporting events
may be received. At step 1104, video inclusive of the video
segments is created. Each of the video segments include a player in
the video content that meet or are tagged with input search
parameters, such as duration of time near a ball, performing a
certain play, at a certain location, in the video segment for a
certain amount of time, or otherwise. The extracted or composite
video may be created by including transition segments between the
video segments. It should be understood that the creation of a
video may include generating a list of computer pointers, tags,
and/or timestamps that enable a computer to access video content
without copying or assembling a new composite video.
[0094] With regard to FIGS. 12A and 12B, an illustration of a video
capture device 1200, such as a smart phone, that includes an
electronic display 1202 is shown. In FIG. 12A, the video capture
device 1200 may utilize a processing unit (not shown) to execute an
application or user interface (e.g., website) that supports
capturing and creating extracted video based on one or more input
search parameters. The video capture device 1200 may identify video
content inclusive of content that satisfies the input parameter(s)
in generating the extracted video. After capturing video, the video
capture device 1200 may provide a user with a user interface 1204a
that enables the user to select a player based on an identifier,
such as a number, on the player's uniform. As shown, a user
interface element 1206 may be selected by the user, and a
selectable list 1208 may provide the user with player numbers
identified within video segments captured by the video capture
device 1200. Alternatively, rather than listing number limited to
players on a team, all numbers 0-99 may be available for selection
of a number matching a player. In this instance, the user selected
player number 7.
[0095] In FIG. 12B, user interface 1204b presents two videos that
match the user's input criteria to create an extracted video
limited to only those video clips with player number "7." As shown,
(i) extracted video 1210a created from only video that the user
recorded is available for playing and (ii) extracted video 1210b
that includes video of the player number "7" that was crowd sourced
(i.e., video submitted by the user and any other user at the same
game who submitted video for some or all the users to search with
input parameters to create an extracted video).
[0096] With regard to FIG. 13, a screenshot of an illustrative user
interface 1300 is shown. The user interface 1300 provides for a
number of different parameter inputs for the system to use in
searching video content to identify video segments that satisfy the
input parameters. As shown, an "action" soft-button 1302, "player"
soft-button 1304, "play type" soft-button 1306, "game time"
soft-button 1308, "format" soft-button 1310, "segment duration"
soft-button 1312, "video feed type" soft-button 1314, "game select"
soft-button 1316 are available for a user to select. It should be
understood that additional and/or alternative soft-buttons may be
provided on the user interface 1300, as well.
[0097] The "action" soft-button 1302 may enable a user to select
video segments in which action or particular actions are occurring.
For example, the user may be able to select or set a type of
action, such as an action in which a player is within a certain
distance of a ball, front of a race, or otherwise. In selecting
actions, pre-established tags may be applied by crowd edited as
described herein and applied to video content segments.
[0098] The "player" soft-button 1304 enables the user to select a
particular player on a respective team. For example, the user may
select a player number on the uniform of a player, such as shown in
FIG. 12A. Other configurations for selecting a player may be
utilized, including enabling the user to view a still image from a
video and select a player shown in the image using a touchscreen or
otherwise.
[0099] The "play type" soft-button 1306 may enable a user to
request a particular type of play from a particular type of sport.
For example, if the sport is baseball, then the user may be able to
select with the player catches the ball, throws a pitch, is at bat,
steals a base, or any other play. Other sports, such as lacrosse,
may have different types of plays, such as scoring a goal,
preventing a goal from being scored, making a pass, catching or
throwing the ball, or otherwise.
[0100] The "game time" soft-button 1308 may be used to enable the
user to request video content that matches game time (e.g., 43:07
minutes), actual time (e.g., 10:18 am), or segment of a game (e.g.,
4th quarter). To enact such a search feature, one embodiment may
apply actual time or relative game time to received video content,
if known, so that a user may select specific time frames to
identify and extract video segments.
[0101] The "format" soft-button 1310 may enable the user to select
a particular format that he or she wants to receive or view and
extracted video inclusive of content that satisfies the input
parameters. For example, the format selection may enable
downloading to a mobile device, posting to the website, writing
onto a tangible memory device, or otherwise.
[0102] The "segment durations" soft-button 1312 may enable the user
to select one or more durations of time for each video segment to
extend. For example, the user may select that only video segments
having a minimum of about five seconds (e.g., 4.80 seconds or
higher) of desired video content be identified and extracted.
[0103] The "video feed type" soft-button 1314 may enable a user to
select a video feed type, such as "instant replay" or "live feed."
If, for example, "instant replay" is selected, then real-time
notifications may be sent and/or video delivery may be communicated
to the user of the mobile device. An instant replay enables the
user to access video, via either a pull or push communication mode,
being collected from other users who are participating in a
temporary social network established at the game or event. As
further described herein, the user may also select to access video
content including certain search parameters, for example, from
other games. By being able to access video so that a parent with
two or more children playing in different games at different
locations can see instant replays (or real-time streaming) of their
children when identified using search parameters by a search
system.
[0104] The "game select" soft-button 1316 may enable to search for
and/or select games that are being played in a local area or more
broadly in other geographic areas. The search may include the
system providing a list of selectable games that are geographically
sorted, alphabetically sorted, game start sorted, or keyword
searchable, as understood in the art.
[0105] With regard to FIG. 14A, an illustration of a video capture
device or other electronic device 1400 may be configured to display
a graphical user interface 1402. The video capture device 1400 is
to be wirelessly networked to a remote server configured to
receive, process, and communicate video. The graphical user
interface 1402 may be generated by an application or mobile app
being executed by the video capture device 1400 or be driven by a
remote electronic device, such as a server via a communications
network (e.g., mobile network, Internet, and/or local via a
wireless communications link that is local to a sports playing
field at which the user operating the video capture device 1400 is
located).
[0106] The graphical user interface 1402 includes a selection
soft-button 1404 to select a video feed type, such as "instant
replay." A user may select the soft-button 1404 to select another
type of video feed, such as "live stream."
[0107] A "current game" soft-button 1406 may show a current game or
event being presented in the user interface 1402, and may be
selectable to enable the user to select another game from which to
receive instant replay video segments. A "location" soft-button
1408 may show a current location at which the game is being played.
The soft-button 1408 may be selectable to enable the user to select
other locations of games from which to select.
[0108] A table 1410 of available and selectable video segment links
1412a-1412n (collectively 1412) is shown. The video segment links
1412 may be hyperlinks and used to send a request to download
respective video content. In one embodiment, the links 1412 may
include thumbnail or other images associated therewith. The table
1410 may include a number of different fields, including player
1414a, team 1414b, location 1414c, time 1414d, and video segment
length 1414e. It should be understood that alternative and/or
additional fields associated with video segments may be available,
as well. As shown, the table 1410 is sorted by player number. It
should be understood that the table 1410 may be sorted by any of
the other fields or combination of fields (e.g., player 1414a
first, video segment length 1414e second). As shown, the location
provides specific location of a user at the game. As an example, a
user may be located on the home team side, 50 yard line, at the
sideline. Alternatively, the user may be located on the away team
side, 30 yard line, in the stands. More granular location
information may also be available, such as north side of the 50
yard line, south side of the 50 yard line, row number, section
number, or any other location identifier or descriptor.
[0109] In one embodiment, when a user checks into a game, which may
be set up as a temporary social media event, the user may be
provided with a number of different input parameters that he or she
may enter or select to identify his or her specific location at the
game so that other users at the game or remotely located from the
game can know where the user is located when recording the video.
Alternatively, image processing may be utilized to automatically
determine location and/or angle of a user relative to a field or
other sports venue (e.g., determine alignment relative to 50-yard
line). As shown, each video segment identified includes a player
number that is identified within the video segment. If multiple
players are identified within a video segment, then multiple
listings for the same video segment may be shown, but associated
with different players. By presenting the data in this matter, a
user may select a single player to view and filter out other
players or have the ability to see all players and what video
segments are available from different angles including different
start times and having different video segment lengths. Rather than
all of the available video segments being listed, the user may
establish a filter to limit the listing only to those video
segments that meet search parameters. In one embodiment, the video
content segments may be listed according to angle versus time for a
user to select desired video content segments.
[0110] Because the table 1410 is meant to provide users or
spectators with instant replays, the video segments may be
processed in real-time and posted in real-time to be available for
selection by the users so that the user may watch the instant
replay video segments at an appropriate time (e.g., just after a
play occurred or during a referee meeting to determine whether a
call was correct). The list 1410 may be ordered in a time
sequential order so that past plays may also be available for
watching. In response to a user selecting one of the video segment
links 1412, such as video segment link 1412c, the user interface
1402 may transition into a video player, such as that shown in FIG.
14C. In one embodiment, a video segment may be recorded or
converted to be slow motion or fast motion and an identifier
indicative of that video format may be listed in association with
the video segments.
[0111] With regard to FIG. 14B, an illustration of the video
recording device 1400 is showing to be displaying a user interface
1402b, where the user has selectably changed the view from an
"instant replay" view to a "live streaming" view by selecting the
video feed type soft-button 1404. The user interface 1402b enables
the user to select search parameters, such as those shown in table
1416, where the user may select and enter a player, team,
play/action, and delivery. As shown, the user has entered two sets
of search parameters 1418a and 1418b. In the first set of search
parameters 1418a, the user has selected player number "6," team
name, action type of where the player is 10 feet or less from the
ball, and video delivery, where a notification delivery may include
displaying a video segment that matches the search parameters to be
posted to a list for the user to view or any other type of message
notification that enables the user to select and download video
content, as understood in the art. If the user selects an automatic
delivery, then in response to a particular set of search parameters
occurring and being identified as occurring, then a video segment
that matches the search parameter may be automatically in a list,
streamed, or otherwise delivered to the video recording device
1400. In one embodiment, the video segments may automatically be
displayed on the video recording device, such as in a video viewer
as provided in FIG. 14C. Another list 1420 may enable a user to
select from a set of live streaming sources 1422a-1422c that lists
locations 1424a, users 1424b, and camera types 1424c from which to
select by a user.
[0112] With regard to FIG. 14C, is an illustration of the video
recording device 1400 presenting the user interface 1402c, where
the user interface 1402c includes a video display region 1426 for
video content to be displayed. The user interface 1402c may include
a "live stream" soft-button 1428a and "instant replay" soft-button
1428b that may be selectable by the user to select whether he or
she wants to watch live streaming or an instant replay,
respectively. A "record" soft-button 1428c may enable a user to
start recording new video content without having to leave the user
interface 1402c.
[0113] In one embodiment, currently set search parameters 1430 may
be displayed and selectable for the user to alter the search
parameters 1430. For example, the user may be able to select a
player search parameter 1432a to change player number, team search
parameter 1432b for the user to change teams, and play/action
search parameter 1432c to change the play or action search
parameter. It should be understood that additional and/or
alternative search parameters, such as tags, may be displayed or
displayable for the user to view and alter, as desired. A source
data field 1434 may display a current source from which video being
displayed in the video display region 1426 is being viewed. The
user may select the source data field 1434 to select a different
source of video content to be displayed in the video display region
1426. For the live streaming 1428a, data that is being collected
from any video capturing device at the game using an application
that is set up for a temporary social network may communicate data
being captured via a communications network to a server that
collects, processes, and distributes the video content to the video
capturing devices, and are part of the temporary social network in
a real-time manner. With further regard to FIG. 2, in the event
that the user has set up a live stream delivery, then the server
206 may communicate the live stream 210 for distribution to video
capture devices 106 that request the live stream of any other video
capture device 106. It should be understood that the live stream
may be operative without having a search parameter being met, but
rather operate more as a peer-to-peer communication where one fan
is able to see a video feed from another fan. In one embodiment, a
verification process may be used to confirm that the video feed is
being sourced from a playing field, where a playing field may be
any area at which a sporting event is played, such as a pool,
basketball court, track, football field, etc. The confirmation of
the video feed being sourced from a playing field may include
identifying at least one feature of a playing field, such as grass,
to avoid a fan distributing undesirable video content to another
fan. Moreover, one embodiment may include a human curator or editor
to review video content prior to distribution of the video
content.
[0114] In the event that the user has selected the "instant replay"
soft-button 1428b, content that is displayed or displayable in the
video display region 1426 may not be streamed, but rather
downloadable and pushed to the device 1400 for selection, unless
requested to be automatically displayed, as described with regard
to FIG. 14B, and viewed.
[0115] The system may be configured to establish certain
relationships between a player and activity. For example, the
system may be configured to automatically identify and tag when the
player is (i) a certain distance from a ball (e.g., soccer ball),
(ii) in a particular stance (e.g., in a batting stance, on the
ground (in the case of a slide tackle in soccer)), (iii) traveling
at a certain speed (e.g., for race car driving or other sports in
which speed is a factor), (iv) in a particular position (e.g., off
the ground, near a basket, near a goal, in a crease, near another
player, near a sideline, in a batter's box), (v) in a scene for a
certain period of time (e.g., 5 seconds), (vi) at a certain
distance from a camera, or otherwise so that specific actions by
the player or other criteria can be searched. Alternatively, and as
described herein, crowd edited tagging of video content segments
may be performed in a manual and/or semi-automatic manner (e.g.,
computer performs a first pass or filtering and user confirms or
modifies tags).
[0116] In recording the video, standard video cameras, mobile
imaging devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, GoPro cameras, etc.)
may be used and the video footage may be accessed by an
editing/playback system capable of being executed on cameras to
perform the various identification functions described above.
Alternatively, the video footage may be loaded into separate or
remote (e.g., on a server via a communications network) system that
executes a software system that processes the image data
independent of the video cameras. In the case of the software
system being resident on the camera, tagging or identification of
the specific players in captured video may be performed in
real-time. Alternatively, the tagging or identification of the
specific players in the captured video may be performed post-video
capture.
[0117] For capturing the video, one or more cameras may be used. If
multiple cameras are used, the cameras may be synched, or software
being executed by both cameras may be remotely synched, such that
real-time or relative time between the cameras may be established.
In the case of using real-time, real-time clock data may be
recorded and associated with one or more video frames so that video
from different camera angles may be collected and available to a
user who wants to watch a player from different angles. For
example, in the case of football, cameras may be placed on opposing
goal posts and at an announcers' box. Handheld cameras, including
mobile devices, may also be used. Because only one of the goal post
cameras will capture the number of the player at each lineup in
which the player participates, the other two camera angles may
never capture the number of the player, and the software system may
not be able to tag or identify the video frames in which the player
is participating. However, because video from one of the multiple
cameras is able to be used to identify that the player is in the
scene and the videos can be synched (at least the times at which
the videos are captured can be identified), then the video captured
from each of the cameras may be tagged or identified as containing
the player. In an alternative embodiment, the cameras may simply be
cameras used by fans, and video content may be uploaded to a system
that identifies players by numbers on their uniforms and uses
tracking software, as understood in the art, to track the
players.
[0118] If multiple cameras are used to capture video from different
video angles, a user may select a video that provides for the best
image of the unique identifier (e.g., player number), such as a
complete number over a partial number. The selected video can be
used in identifying the player. If the videos are synched, then the
system may automatically identify the same player in each of the
different videos from the different angles. In one embodiment, the
system may be automated to identify the video with the best view of
the player identifier.
[0119] In an embodiment, a system may create a set of video
playable segments in which a player's number is identified (e.g.,
at the start of a play or video segment in which the player
appears) using character recognition. The set of video segments may
be thumbnails that may be selected using touch or other features to
enable the user to view the video segments. In addition, the video
segments may be formed into a single video with or without
transition segments (e.g., fade-to-black) between the video
segments. An editing system may also enable a user to simply drag,
select, or otherwise cause the video segment or a selectable
portion thereof to be inserted into or at the end of a continuous
video using video editing techniques, as understood in the art. In
an alternative embodiment, the system may be automated and follow
input parameters for content to comply, and, if so, the steadiest,
longest, brightest, clearest, sharpest, or other image parameters
may establish which video segment from multiple video segments of
the same play at different angles should be selected. The video
segments may be associated with actual time and/or game time.
[0120] In an embodiment, the system may enable a user to select a
zoom level for video inclusive of a player wearing a selected
unique identifier. The zoom level may be selected from multiple,
predetermined selectable zoom levels. Alternatively, a dynamic zoom
level may be set by a user, and the system may maintain that zoom
level.
[0121] In another embodiment, the system may enable a user to
select a crop distance surrounding a player wearing a selected
unique identifier. The crop distance may be selected from multiple,
predetermined selectable crop distances. Alternatively, a dynamic
crop distance may be set by a user, and the system may maintain
that crop distance surrounding the player.
[0122] Access to the video system may be via the camera (if
configured with the video processing system), cloud via a website,
or local computer. The software may be native or a downloadable
app.
[0123] With regard to FIG. 15, a screenshot of an illustrative user
interface 1500 for a coach to sign-up and select a roster for the
team is shown. The user interface 1500 is shown to include a
"select roster" window 1502, in which a coach of a team may perform
a search to search a data repository for a player name or team name
to identify players to include on a team roster. A team roster 1506
may be shown as the coach identifies players on a team. As an
example, a player item 1508 includes a player name 1510, player
number 1512, player position 1514, and selectable photo element
1516 in which the coach may select and enter a photo of the player.
In one embodiment, the coach may select and/or enter the player
number and player position using the user interface 1500. As shown,
the select roster window 1502 may enable the coach to cancel select
in the roster using a cancel soft-button 1518 or select a "done"
soft-button 1520 upon completion of selecting the roster.
[0124] With regard to FIG. 16, a screenshot of an illustrative user
interface 1600 for a player to sign-up and select or submit player
information, including jersey number and team name via respective
user interface input elements 1602 and 1604 is shown. The player or
athlete may elect to skip submitting the information using a "skip"
soft-button 1606 or submit the information by selecting a "done"
soft-button 1608 within a window or region 1610.
[0125] With regard to FIG. 17, a screenshot of an illustrative user
interface 1700 for a fan or other user to sign-up and select
player(s) to follow is shown. The user interface may include a text
entry box 1702 for a user to enter a player name or team to cause a
list 1704 of players to be displayed. Rather than using a text
entry box 1702, other graphical user interface element(s) may be
provided to the fan to locate a player or list of players. Each
player record may include a player name 1706, player number 1708 on
the player's jersey, position 1710 of the player, team 1712 of the
player, photo 1714 of the player, and "follow" soft-button 1716 for
the user to selectively follow the respective player. The user
interface 1700 may also provide a "skip" soft-button 1718 to enable
the user not to follow any players and "done" soft-button 1720 to
enable the user to initiate following the selected players. In one
embodiment, the "follow" soft-button may change colors or names
(e.g., "following," "stop following," etc.).
[0126] With regard to FIG. 18A, a screen shot of an illustrative
user interface 1800a inclusive of illustrative video feeds 1802a
and 1802b are shown to enable a user to view one or more videos of
a player captured during a sporting event are shown. The video
feeds 1802 may be real-time or non-real-time videos that are
available for a user to view. The user interface 1800 includes an
information section 1804 that shows information 1806, including
player number, player name, time of video capture, photo of player,
etc. Additional information 1808 may include team names and game
(e.g., names of teams playing one another), location of game or
event, etc. Control elements 1810 may provide for a play video
soft-button, time of video, add video soft-button, and so on.
[0127] With regard to FIG. 18B, a screen shot of an illustrative
user interface 1800b inclusive of the video feeds 1802a and 1802b
of FIG. 18A are shown. An "add to favorites" soft-button 1812
allows for a user to add the video feed 1802a to a favorite video
list. An "add hashtags" soft-button 1814 enables a user to add
hashtag(s) to the video in the video feed 1802a. A "share with
friends" soft-button 1816 enables the user to share the video with
friends or family of the user. The video feed may include other
conventional controls, including time control element 1818, full
screen control element 1820, and zoom control element 1822. Other
control elements may be provided to a user, as well.
[0128] With regard to FIG. 19, a screen shot of an illustrative
user interface 1900 that enables a user to assign one or more
hashtags to a video segment or clip is shown. A list of hashtag
soft-buttons 1902 is shown to have respective hashtags 1904a-1904m
(collectively 1904) that may be assigned to a video segment may be
specific actions performed during a soccer game. It should be
understood that the list 1902 may alternatively be defined with
hashtags for any sport or activity. As shown, the hashtags 1904 may
include "goal," "assist," "shot," "save," "tackle," "foul," "free
kick," "penalty," "corner," "header," "cross," "volley," and "add
other." By assigning one or more of the hashtags 1904 to the video,
users may search for one or more hashtags, and one or more players,
to identify videos of interest. Each user may assign one or more
hashtags to a video segment such that a combination of the unique
hashtags define each of the actions or items in the video segment.
The hashtags assigned by each of the users may be a subset of a
complete set of hashtags formed by a combination of unique hashtags
assigned by all of the users.
[0129] The user interface 1900 may also including a name of a game
1906 associated with the video segment, cancel soft-button 1908,
and "done" soft-button 1910 to accept the assignment(s) of the
hashtag(s) 1904 to the video segment. Assigning hashtags by users
operates as a crowd editing function in that one or more viewers
may assign the hashtags to video segments collected by users,
thereby enabling users to collect video of players at a sporting
event and each of the users to access video from each of the
participating users.
[0130] With regard to FIG. 20A, a screen shot of an illustrative
user interface 2000a is shown to enable a user to create an event,
such as a soccer game. The user may be a coach, parent, fan,
spectator, organizer, or otherwise. The event may be any event type
established for creation by an operator of the system. As shown,
the user interface 2000a may include a "home team" selection
element 2002, "away team" selection element 2004, "location"
selection element 2006, and "date" selection element 2008.
Selection of the selection elements 2002 and 2004 may provide for a
user interface 2000b with a list of teams 2012 (FIG. 20B) and user
interface 2000c with a list of teams 2014 (FIG. 20C) available for
selection of home and away teams, respectively, by the user.
Alternative listings, such as locations (e.g., towns, schools,
etc.) league(s), from which the user may browse to find the home
and away teams may be provided, as well. A selection of the
"location" selection element 2006 may enable the user to select
from a list of locations. In one embodiment, a GPS location of a
mobile device on which the user interface 2000a is being executed
may provide a reduced list of locations (e.g., fields) at which
games may be available for selection. A user interface 2000d is
shown to include a list of locations 2016 at which an event is to
be held may be available for selection. The user interface 2000d
may also include a text entry field 2018 may enable a user to enter
a location to narrow a search for the location of the event. Once
the event items are selected, as shown on the user interface 2000e
in FIG. 20E, the user may select a "save" soft-button 2010 for
entry of the event. The event may be selected by the user and other
users for interfacing with the system thereafter. As shown in FIG.
20F, a user interface 2000f may display a message 2020 that
notifies the user that the event has been added, and the user may
select an "add video" soft-button 2022 to add a video from the
event or "skip" soft-button 2024 to skip adding video at the event.
It should be understood that a variety of different information may
be presented based on the event type or other factor.
[0131] With regard to FIG. 21A, a screenshot of an illustrative
user interface 2100 may provide for a user to browse content
collected at one or more events by selecting an "athletes"
soft-button 2102a, "videos" soft-button 2102b, and "hashtags"
soft-button 2102c is shown. Selection of the "athletes" soft-button
2102a may cause a list of athletes 2104 from which the user may
select to follow one or more athletes 2106 by pressing a "follow"
soft-button from a corresponding list of soft-buttons 2108. As
shown in FIG. 21B, responsive to a user selecting the "videos"
soft-button 2102b, a user interface 2100b may include a list of
video segments 2110 may be displayed for a user to review and
select individual video segment(s). As shown in FIG. 21C,
responsive to a user selecting the "hashtags" soft-button 2102c, a
user interface 2100c may include a list of available hashtags 2112
and number of video segments or clips having respective hashtags
associated therewith. As an example, a #Touchdown hashtag has 530
videos associated therewith. More detailed search parameters may
help to narrow down the videos inclusive of the #Touchdown
hashtag.
[0132] With regard to FIGS. 22A-22C, user interfaces 2200a-2200c
may provide for searching for videos are shown. In FIG. 22A, the
user interface 2200a may include a list of videos 2202 associated
with a particular player. The list of videos 2202 may include all
videos of the player from one or more sporting events. A "follow"
soft-button 2204 may enable the user to follow the player. In FIG.
22B, the user interface 2200b may include a list of videos 2206
inclusive of one or more players and having a particular hashtag,
in this case #touchdown, associated therewith. In FIG. 22C, the
user interface 2200c may provide for a search so that the user may
search for videos that are associated with a particular player and
hashtag, for example, and a list of videos 2208 may be displayed in
response to a search.
[0133] With regard to FIG. 23, a user interface 2300 may provide
for a video editing environment in which video clips taken by
different users at different angles may be listed along a first
axis 2302y and time of the video clips may be along a second axis
2302x is shown. The different users that collect the video clips
may be located around a sporting event, for example. In one
embodiment, the user may enter a location relative to a field
(e.g., home team side, 30 yard line), and the location may be used
for positioning relative to other video clips collected from a
sporting event, in this case the Oakland Riders vs Golden State
Warriors game. A first composite video 2304 is shown to be
assembled from multiple video clips 2306, in this case three video
clips. The composite video 2304 has associated information 2308,
including number of players, number of tags, duration, and number
of video clips. Available video clips 2310 that meet a search
criteria (e.g., player number(s), hashtag(s), or otherwise) may be
listed and available for a user to select to include in a composite
or extracted video. By providing for each of the video clips with
crowd sourced tags, a user may be able to identify and select video
content in a fast and easy manner and at angles not possible for a
single user to obtain. Various video editing functions, such as
clipping, zooming, transitioning, etc., as understood in the art,
may be provided, as well. In one embodiment, the editing deck may
be automated so that the user is able to receive a composite video
without having to perform custom selection or editing.
[0134] The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow
diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not
intended to require or imply that the steps of the various
embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be
appreciated by one of skill in the art the steps in the foregoing
embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as "then,"
"next," etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps;
these words are simply used to guide the reader through the
description of the methods. Although process flow diagrams may
describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the
operations may be performed in parallel or concurrently. In
addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process
may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine,
a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its
termination may correspond to a return of the function to the
calling function or the main function.
[0135] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits,
and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments
disclosed here may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer
software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this
interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative
components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been
described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether
such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends
upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on
the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described
functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but
such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing
a departure from the scope of the present invention.
[0136] Embodiments implemented in computer software may be
implemented in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware
description languages, or any combination thereof. A code segment
or machine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a
function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a
module, a software package, a class, or any combination of
instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code
segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware
circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments,
parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters,
data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any
suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token
passing, network transmission, etc.
[0137] The actual software code or specialized control hardware
used to implement these systems and methods is not limiting of the
invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and
methods were described without reference to the specific software
code being understood that software and control hardware can be
designed to implement the systems and methods based on the
description here.
[0138] When implemented in software, the functions may be stored as
one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory
computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. The steps
of a method or algorithm disclosed here may be embodied in a
processor-executable software module which may reside on a
computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. A
non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable media
includes both computer storage media and tangible storage media
that facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to
another. A non-transitory processor-readable storage media may be
any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of
example, and not limitation, such non-transitory processor-readable
media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk
storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,
or any other tangible storage medium that may be used to store
desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures
and that may be accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc,
as used here, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,
digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where
disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce
data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also
be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as
one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a
non-transitory processor-readable medium and/or computer-readable
medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program
product.
[0139] When implemented in hardware, the functionality may be
implemented within circuitry of a wireless signal processing
circuit that may be suitable for use in a wireless receiver or
mobile device. Such a wireless signal processing circuit may
include circuits for accomplishing the signal measuring and
calculating steps described in the various embodiments.
[0140] The hardware used to implement the various illustrative
logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in
connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or
performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal
processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),
a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic
device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware
components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the
functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a
microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any
conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state
machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of
computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a
microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more
microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such
configuration. Alternatively, some steps or methods may be
performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.
[0141] Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for
example, using the articles "a," "an" or "the," is not to be
construed as limiting the element to the singular.
[0142] The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is
provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the
present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
the present invention is not intended to be limited to the
embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope
consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel
features disclosed herein.
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